Working Nissans

The Patrol’s working life began with the Japanese forestry service and police reserve in 1951 and widened with the 60 series and the 160: Australian graziers, African construction, Asian plantations and Gulf oil companies bought them for a strong six and a chassis that could be mended anywhere. The Y60 and Y61 carried that trade into the 2020s.

Aid agencies and the UN standardised on the Y61 and the Navara because the parts are everywhere and the mechanicals are simple — live axles, a naturally aspirated diesel, no air suspension. When the Y62 went to independent suspension the fleets kept buying the old one, which is why it stayed in production until 2024.